Travel Blog | Shalee Wanders

Four Reasons Why Everyone Should Visit Scandinavia

By Shalee Wanders | Jun 6, 2017

FOUR REASONS EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT SCANDINAVIA Scandinavia might have words like menneskerettighetsorganisasjonene, and the winters might be brutal, but if you’re looking for awe-inspiring landscapes, friendly people, and saunas with beer, it’s a region not to be missed. Consisting of Finland (which I did not visit), Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, the Scandinavian region is…

Northern Michigan and Magical Petoskey

By Shalee Wanders | May 26, 2017

As a child going “Up North” was *almost* as good as Christmas. I’d cry every time we came home (way after I was too old to be crying to come home). I still believe there is magic along shores. I have never met a person who was disappointed with Northern Michigan. Except I did hear…

One Year of Travel: A Photographic Journey

By Shalee Wanders | May 14, 2017

ONE YEAR OF TRAVEL: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY It’s officially been a year since I declined a full-time job after graduation to embark on a life-altering adventure. I could write a book (actually, I am writing a book…eek!) about everything that has happened in the last year alone. From the Cies Islands off the coast of…

One of the Most Underrated European Countries: Poland

By Shalee Wanders | Apr 26, 2017

When we think of Europe we often think of the quaint coffee shops of Paris, pubs of Dublin, and gelato of Italy. Don’t get me wrong, Italy’s gelato=one of my closest moments to reaching the clouds of heaven, but it’s nothing I’d consider a “secret” of Europe. Although I love France, Spain, and Switzerland,…

Five Must-Camp Places in Michigan This Summer

By Shalee Wanders | Apr 16, 2017

Five Must-Camp Places in Michigan This Summer Updated: January 25, 2020 Summer months in The Mitten are considered sacred. We patiently wait from November to April for the weather to break, the lakes to become swimmable, and the camping nights comfortable. Each year we each make a list of places to visit, but somehow at the…

Eight Other Travel Blogs to Inspire Your Wanderlust

By Shalee Wanders | Apr 3, 2017

EIGHT OTHER BLOGS TO INSPIRE YOUR WANDERLUST When I begin looking for my next destination, I don’t often turn to guidebooks or the Travel Channel. Instead, I gain most of my wanderlust from reading other blogs. Bloggers tend to be the best way to learn what you need to know about a destination, not just…

underrated places in the United States - Utah

The Epic Five: Road Trip Utah’s National Parks

By Shalee Wanders | Mar 20, 2017

The Epic Five: Road Trip Utah National Parks Guide 2021 Updated: June 23, 2021 Utah National Parks: Sunrise in Arches National Park Everything to Know About the Five Utah National Parks Utah is the state that holds the third most national parks, standing just behind California (nine) and Alaska (eight). Although often overlooked by…

Seven Things That Suck About Long Term Travel

By Shalee Wanders | Mar 7, 2017

SEVEN THINGS THAT SUCK ABOUT LONG TERM TRAVEL I dreamt for years about traveling long term. Waking up every day in a completely new environment, without the slightest clue to where I was going next or how I was going to get there. In many ways, long term travel is a dream. But there…

An Inside Look at the Van Life: Q&A

By Shalee Wanders | Feb 27, 2017

AN INSIDE LOOK AT VANLIFE: Q&A Living in a van isn’t the most usual lifestyle. And with an unusual life comes many questions. Few people will ever understand what living in a van for months on end entails. The good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly. It’s not the easiest or most comfortable…

Bucket List: The Glass Beach of Northern California

By Shalee Wanders | Feb 16, 2017

BUCKET LIST: THE GLASS BEACH OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA There are few places that stand out in such a way it almost seems fictional. For example, a beach made entirely of sea glass. In the quaint (and extremely adorable) Northern California town of Fort Bragg sits a series of coves with not much sand, but quite…

The Best Places to Visit in the United States: 2017

By Shalee Wanders | Feb 9, 2017

THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN THE UNITED STATES I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but somehow I’ve ticked off 42 states on the United States map. You know what that means, right? I’ve got 6 1/2 years to hit the last eight to complete 50 states before I turn 30. Challenge accepted. In…

Please Don’t Ruin This:

By Shalee Wanders | Jan 28, 2017

Below is a selection of photographs showing fragile environments affected by our decisions as a country and world.

A Road Trip up the Pacific Coast Highway

By Shalee Wanders | Jan 3, 2017

A Road Trip Up The Pacific Coast Highway Oh, California, I have such a love-hate relationship with you. A magical coastline, (mostly) beautiful weather, mountains, redwoods, orcas, and oceans. There aren’t many places in the world where Christmas Day includes spotting whales off the coast, or a lazy Sunday means camping under the stars…

A Lake Michigan Sunset

By Shalee Wanders | Dec 16, 2016

A sunset in Greece over the Aegean Sea was beautiful. A sunset in the mountains of Norway was stunning. A beach sunset in Hawaii was breathtaking. Yet a Lake Michigan sunset remains the most magical of them all. People who finds themselves lost, hurt, or broken; often travel to the shores of Lake Michigan for healing. They…

I take travel photos. I've never put on make-up for a photo. Usually, I'm hiking, sweating, probably unshowered and may or may not have shaved my armpits in the last three days. I have a decent camera, but about 50% of my Instagram photos are shot with my iPhone 5s because I'm too lazy to carry all my camera equipment up a mountain. My travel snapshots include being in a beautiful place, taking some photos, and hoping one turns out decent enough to make it to my Instagram page. So are photos on Instagram fake? Depends on who you ask. But not mine. The world of photo-sharing is an interesting one. There are those who share solely for the 'likes', there are those who tell stories, those who share memories, those who share pets, landscapes, selfies, and inspiration cartoon quotes. In the world of Instagram, it is arguable that pictures are fake. "Travel" Instagrams are nothing more than a posed, glamorized, over-edited photo that completely diminishes that reality of a destination. True? Eh, for some people. However, sharing travel photos that aren't posed, glamorized, or over-edited but that are still breathtakingly beautiful is still completely do-able. Take photos, as you are, with who you're with, without wearing designer clothes or doing your makeup. So how do you take simple travel photos and turn them into travel photography? 1) Rule of Thirds Having the subject constantly in the middle of the photo is boring. In photography, the "Rule of Thirds" can be best described as a grid that overlays a photo and pinpoints where in the frame the subject is. In the above photo, you can see the subject is in the bottom-right corner. What is in the middle? Absolutely nothing, but that's what makes the photo more appealing to the viewer's eye. 2) Don't over-pose Looking stiff and overly posed is usually a photo-killer. Truth is, there are way too many people in the Instagram world that like to try and become Instagram-models. We are not Instagram-models. I eat way too much ice cream for that shit. 3) Be natural This goes hand-in-hand with posing. If you are on the beach watching a sunset, have a friend or self-timer catch you standing in the waves. This is something you would naturally do, which gives the photo a sense of "realism". When you are getting your photo taken, you usually know your photo is being taken. This can make it hard to "be natural". How do you overcome it? Laugh. Let your friends call you out on your pose. Be the picture taker that takes the picture when your friend laughs at themselves. A real picture is always better than a yoga-pose. 4) Take it easy on the filters Instagram filters are great for selfies, but lack appeal with natural photos. Unless a skilled editor in Lightroom or Photoshop, playing around with filters can lessen your photos appeal and the realness of the moment. 5) Avoid other people Photos are more dramatic and appealing when there aren't dozens of other tourists in the photo. Get creative with angles or wait for a break in the crowd. While visiting Annecy, France I was attempting to get a beautiful person-free photo. After waiting a few minutes and realizing the streets weren't clearing of crowds like this: I turned my attention to a small riverwalk about five steps away and shot this: 6) Be a little crazy Sometimes you've got to risk it to get the biscuit. The photo below is the perfect example. What you see: me balancing on the edge of a cliff (not always recommended). What you don't see: Josh hanging off the cliff to get the photo. I'm not saying you should risk your life for an Instagram shot, although I'm sure news outlets would love another story of social media killing a millennial. What I am saying is pay attention to shots and angles that will create a sense of "awe". 7) Communicate with your photographer Both Josh and I love travel photos, but we are unique in how we like to edit/shoot. We communicate with each other the angle and direction of the photo we want. Don't hand your camera to someone assuming they'll see the same photo you see. Hold the phone in the exact spot and position you want it before handing it off to assure it's exactly what you've envisioned. 8) Learn to edit Capturing the photo is step number one. Editing the photo is the second (but still equally as important) step. However, you don't need to purchase fancy-editing software. Editing a photo simply in Instagram is enough. Here is an unedited photo: Here is the same photo after editing on Instagram:

How to Take Good Instagram Photos

By Shalee Wanders | Dec 5, 2016

How to Take Good Instagram Photos March 19, 2022 Let me start this article off by saying I am the furthest thing from an “Instagram model.” In fact, this is what I look like on 90% of my travels: But when it comes to how to take good Instagram photos, all you really need to…

I Got Robbed in San Antonio

By Shalee Wanders | Nov 21, 2016

WE GOT ROBBED IN SAN ANTONIO Operation #vanlife is proving difficult. Much more difficult than living out of a backpack for three months in Europe. Who would have thought? Here’s a recap of the first three weeks on the road: Day one: Discover our daytime lights continuously flash, so everyone on the road thinks we are constantly…

8 Alternative European Towns to Visit

By Shalee Wanders | Nov 13, 2016

8 ALTERNATIVE EUROPEAN TOWNS TO VISIT We all know about Paris and Rome. We’ve added Santorini and Cinque Terre to our list of “must-see” places. Twenty years ago these sights were busy, today they are a tourist hell. Sure, some of them are worth a stop, but thanks to social media constantly promoting their beauty…

Budget Van Renovation: How to Renovate a Van For Under $600

By Shalee Wanders | Oct 31, 2016

Budget Van Renovation: How to Renovate a Van For Under $600 January 25, 2020 I’ll always look back and remember that my first home was a van. Nearly two months after arriving back to Michigan from Europe, I am preparing to embark on yet another adventure that will hide me from a mortgage and…

Around Europe in 90 Days

By Shalee Wanders | Oct 18, 2016

AROUND EUROPE IN 90 DAYS (VIDEO)

Everything You Need to Know About the Eurail Pass

By Shalee Wanders | Oct 12, 2016

Everything You Need to Know About the Eurail Pass Updated: March 21, 2020 Gallivanting around Europe is nothing new to young explorers. For those taking the leap to travel Europe for an extended period of time, there is one key element that will make or break the trip. How will they see it all? The…

What Happens in Europe…

By Shalee Wanders | Sep 25, 2016

WHAT HAPPENS IN EUROPE… Three months in Europe comes with a lot of memories (and mishaps). When beginning a journey of such magnitude, you know that along the way you will create stories both good and bad, and come back with a few “pinch me” moments. Since returning home, many people want to know…

How to Travel Europe on a Budget (25 Countries for Under $3,500)

By Shalee Wanders | Sep 6, 2016

How to Travel Europe on a Budget (25 Countries on $3,500) Updated March 23, 2020 Here is a map of everywhere we stopped and traveled to during 90 days with $3,500 each while traveling Europe on a budget: I think “backpacking Europe” is on a lot of people’s bucket lists. I know it was…

Mount Olympus: A Trek up Greece’s Highest Mountain

By Shalee Wanders | Aug 8, 2016

MOUNT OLYMPUS: A TREK UP GREECE’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN And I peeked over the edge, only to realize that a thousand-foot cliff waited for me on the other side. I was roughly 400 vertical feet from the summit of Mount Olympus, the tallest mountain in Greece and the heart of Greek mythology. I had yet…

Traveling Europe on A Budget

By Shalee Wanders | Jul 31, 2016

Tips for Traveling Europe On a Budget January 25, 2020 You’ve journaled price estimates, added every quarter to your travel fund, and mapped out exactly where you want to go. You have dreams of a classic European backpacking adventure, but how do you ensure you can afford it? Sticking to a budget is tough.…

What I’ve Learned from My First Month Backpacking Europe

By Shalee Wanders | Jul 8, 2016

WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM MY FIRST MONTH BACKPACKING EUROPE When I said goodbye to the United States on June 1st with nothing but a backpack, a passport, and a boyfriend, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. We had nothing planned, no idea what we wanted to see, or what the next three…

The Island of Cies

By Shalee Wanders | Jun 15, 2016

THE ISLAND OF CIES Arriving in Europe on June 2nd with no plans, no itinerary, and a limited budget was probably one of the scarier things I’ve done while traveling. I’ll admit that although I’m not a planner (or a good one at that), I was more than intimidated arriving on an entirely new…

Red River Gorge Cabin Life: Treehouse Edition

By Shalee Wanders | May 26, 2016

Best Red River Gorge Treehouse + Cabins Updated: April 14, 2021 Last week I returned to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky for some climbing and exploring. On my first visit last October, I fell in love with the area and the atmosphere around Miguel’s Pizza. This time, I had the opportunity to go…

MILLION VIEW GIVEAWAY: A Traverse City Adventure

By Shalee Wanders | May 11, 2016

Want to win a trip to Traverse City? Here’s your chance! As many of you know, I am in love with northern Michigan. It’s the place that inspired me to start a blog and begin this crazy journey. A little over two years later, I’ve just celebrated my MILLIONTH view. MILLIONTH. 999,000 more than what…

An Alternative Graduation: Hot Air Ballooning

By Shalee Wanders | May 9, 2016

AN ALTERNATIVE GRADUATION: HOT AIR BALLOONING I’m a college graduate, guys. I’M A COLLEGE GRADUATE. Whew. What a weekend. Last week my pending graduation was finally beginning to hit me. My Facebook feed was filled with classmates taking pictures around campus in their green & white cap and gowns, each of us anxiously awaiting…

Travel Essential Packing List

By Shalee Wanders | May 3, 2016

TRAVEL ESSENTIAL PACKING LIST

An Audition to Be the Director of Toughness

By Shalee Wanders | Apr 14, 2016

AN AUDITION TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF TOUGHNESS A while back I auditioned for Columbia’s Director of Toughness and made it all the way to the final round. It was one of the most unique experiences, although it has taken me a while to finally write about it. Last August, Nedra from Adventure Mom…

Grab your Friend—and Go Jump off a Cliff

By Shalee Wanders | Apr 7, 2016

I was introduced to Tobermory, Canada about two years ago, and my life hasn’t been quite the same since. Ontario isn’t known for its drastic landscapes, northern lights, or French accents like its relative territories of Quebec or Alberta. Ishpatina Ridge sits at the highest elevation inside its 415,000 square miles, a little hill slightly…

Behind the Blog: How to Start your Own

By Shalee Wanders | Mar 29, 2016

BEHIND THE BLOG: HOW TO START YOUR OWN It’s new and relatively unknown. Blogging is a concept many people are trying, but not many know what they’re doing. It’s evolved significantly in the past few years, and the future looks promising in the millennial world. This week I’m answering one of the main non-travel related…

Fathom Travel: A New Kind of Adventure

By Shalee Wanders | Mar 21, 2016

Recently I took a trip that included beaches and mountains, but not the kind you’d typically find me on. This was a new adventure, one that wasn’t your typical vacation. I’d never been on an impact trip. I had always been curious, but was always picky about what kind of trip I would take. I…

8 Tips for Tight Budget Travel

By Shalee Wanders | Mar 4, 2016

8 TIPS FOR TIGHT BUDGET TRAVEL Some of us are visual learners (myself included). This week I decided to take a different approach to share some of my tips while traveling on a budget. What is the twist? AN INFOGRAPHIC. Recently, I’ve had a bit of an obsession with infographics and I just created…

8 Small Town Michigan Overnight Getaways

By Shalee Wanders | Feb 4, 2016

8 SMALL TOWN MICHIGAN OVERNIGHT GETAWAYS 1. Mesick It’s in the middle of nowhere, it’s near the highest point in the Lower Peninsula, and it’s the mushroom capital of the world. If you love hunting for those Morel mushrooms come spring, this is the place for you! I spent countless weekends here as a…

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